In recent years, electric vehicles have been increasing around the world. And with the development of charging infrastructure, people’s anxiety about range has been eased. However, in winter, electric vehicles can still suffer from reduced performance and capacity in cold temperatures. So why does this happen, and how much do you know about how to deal with it?
The impact of low temperatures on electric vehicles
Slower charging
Low temperatures slow down the chemical reactions inside the battery, which limits the charging rate. That’s why preheat mode is essential because a battery in low temperatures will not charge fast until it reaches temperature. Charging indoors will be better.
Reduced battery capacity
When the temperature drops below zero, the battery’s performance will be significantly affected. According to relevant data, when the power battery is in -20C environment, its capacity is only about 70% of that at 25C, or even lower.
Reduced range
From the technical point of view, the power battery equipped with an electric vehicle is charged and discharged by transferring lithium ions in the electrolyte and embedding and de-embedding in the positive and negative electrodes. At low temperatures, the poor activity of the positive and negative electrode materials and the reduced conductivity of the internal electrolyte leads to the decay of the available capacity of the battery, which is the main reason for the reduction of the range of electric vehicles.
In addition to the battery’s technical characteristics, air conditioning in the car is also a significant factor leading to the shrinking range of electric vehicles. The working power of the PTC heater of a pure electric car is about 2-4kW. If the warm air is used all the time during the driving process, then one hour of PTC heating for the vehicle will consume 2-4kWh of electricity, which will probably compromise the range of 15-30km.
How to deal with the winter range problem?
For the problem of electric vehicle winter range decay, the industry is now commonly used in three ways to correspond. One is to improve the low-temperature performance, the second is to develop lower power consumption air conditioners, and the third is to lay out a more extensive and dense charging network.
We take Tesla, the world’s largest seller, as an example. In terms of the EIC System, Tesla has undergone more than 10 years of development, and the technology is already very mature. The response plan for winter low-temperature weather is relatively perfect. For example, a more accurate temperature control system is added to the BMS to increase the battery activity by heating the battery pack, thus expanding the range.
In terms of reducing energy consumption, for example, Tesla’s newly launched “heat pump air conditioning” significantly reduces energy consumption and thus improves winter range. It is said that the “heat pump air conditioning” can improve the range of 10%-15%. Its brake energy recovery system can also improve the range of 10%-15%.
In addition, the way Tesla optimizes aerodynamics to improve content is also worth mentioning. For example, the hidden door handles, which users across the Tesla lineup, can increase capacity by about 5%; the hubcaps on the 18-inch wheels on the Model 3 can increase range by about 3%. Meanwhile, Tesla’s grille-less front end, flat chassis, and many other details can significantly increase capacity.
Although the current technology can not completely solve the problem of winter range reduction, however, Tesla has provided owners with a good range through the optimization of body details, air conditioning energy consumption, and the Eric system.
What if I have a 0% battery in sub-zero temperatures?
If you have access to a wall charger, plug it into your electric car and select the pre-heat mode on the charger or your smartphone. Your EV will draw power from the charger to heat the battery and cabin, and you should be able to start charging within 5 minutes. You can also pre-heat your electric car using the energy stored in the battery, so you can safely leave your EV parked overnight without a charger. If you don’t have access to a wall charger to pre-heat the battery, and your battery is at 0%, you can call a breakdown service that offers mobile charging.
Currently, many users still have some concerns about using EVs in winter. However, as long as you understand the characteristics of EVs, are familiar with the distribution of EV charging stations, and plan your travel route reasonably, you can ensure everyday use, even in winter. And we believe that with the progress of EV technology, users’ anxiety about using EVs in winter will be less and less.
